England manager Gareth Southgate has kept the door open on Wayne Rooney again playing international football one day after the striker announced his retirement from the national team.

Southgate was asked by journalists on Thursday whether he might consider asking Rooney back if injuries disrupted his squad ahead of next year's World Cup in Russia.

"Yes. [But] I guess you will have to ask him," Southgate told a press conference called to announce his 28-man squad for the away game at Malta on September 1 and the home fixture against Slovakia at Wembley three days later.

"His form has been excellent and I was definitely thinking about including him in the squad. We talked for about half-an-hour. As a manager in these situations you want to prod to see if a player has understood all the ramifications [of retiring].

"He had. He feels a sense of loyalty to Everton, his new club."

Rooney is England's record scorer and most capped outfield player with 53 goals in 119 games.

Two new players in Southgate's squad are Leicester City defender Harry Maguire and Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah.

Maguire, a 24-year-old central defender, impressed last season with Hull City before making a move to Leicester City this summer.

"I thought his performances for Hull were very good," Southgate said.

"He is a defender who is very comfortable with the ball, he has already adjusted very well to a new club at Leicester, plays with composure and can defend the ball into the box, so this is a good chance to have a look at him."

Chalobah, a product of Chelsea's youth system who has been a regular for England at age-group level, joined Watford recently after several loan spells during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Southgate has also called up uncapped goalkeeper Jordan Pickford of Everton.